Major Convention Won't Be Moving To Central Florida

The Show, Concerned About Coordination Between Osceola And Orange Counties, Rejected The World Expo Center.

October 14, 1998|By Tim Barker of The Sentinel Staff

After months of courtship, a prized trade show has rejected the advances of Central Florida and will stay in Chicago.

The International Housewares Show, which draws 60,000 attendees, has decided the time is not right for a move to the World Expo Center, which is under development in Osceola County.

In making its decision, the board of the National Housewares Manufacturers Association cited several reasons, including a new labor agreement in Chicago.

But more important for Central Florida is this: The show's leadership was disturbed by the lack of a central authority responsible for coordinating conventions between Orange and Osceola counties.

``It was the fact that we could walk into a situation where we would be competing with another show in Orange County,'' said association President Phil Brandl.

The large shows put a significant strain on the area's supply of convention-class hotel rooms. Even with 92,000 hotel rooms, Central Florida is hard-pressed to support more than one large convention at a time with so many other tourists in town.

Without a coordinating authority, available rooms essentially would be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, leaving some conventioneers without quality rooms.

The issue is not close to being resolved, though officials in both counties have talked vaguely about the need for coordination. It will become increasingly important as Orange and Osceola move forward with plans to build larger convention centers.

The Orange County Convention Center has 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space - which generally limits the number of large shows that can be in Central Florida.

But within five years, the area could have almost 5 million square feet of exhibit space, creating more opportunities for conflicting convention dates.

The housewares association considers coordination between the centers a critical issue in any further deliberations about moving to Central Florida. The group has pledged to keep the show in Chicago until 2003.

Also playing a part in the association's decision were labor and transportation concessions offered by Chicago, which was in danger of losing several shows.

Earlier, World Expo officials cited Chicago's labor troubles as one of the reasons why top shows would leave in favor of Osceola County. World Expo officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

And while the housewares show has been in Chicago since 1939, Brandl said that won't stop the group from moving.

``Our decision will be based on business issues and not on tradition,'' Brandl said. ``Chicago needs to work harder and more creatively to reduce costs.''